Live telecast will bring fairness to floor test: Singhvi

Senior counsel and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing in the Supreme Court for the Congress and the JD-S, said on Saturday that the live telecast during floor test in the Karnataka Assembly will bring fairness to the trust vote.

"The first and basic object of our application was to establish transparent norm for a trust vote and it will be ensured by releasing the live feed simultaneously in some local channels," Singhvi added while addressing the media outside the Supreme Court.

Earlier on Saturday, the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular dropped their plea questioning Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to appoint K.G. Bopaiah as the pro tem speaker in the assembly, after the apex court allowed live streaming of the floor test to be held at 4 p.m.

It also allowed daylong live telecast of the assembly proceedings including the 4 p.m. trust vote when Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa takes the floor test.

"I think virtually all our concerns are taken care of, videography was a specific request which has been taken care of. Ultimately (it boils down to) the hope and trust that the highest norms of democracy will be maintained...," he stated.

Later in a press conference, Singhvi said the main purpose of the talks going on for the last four-five days was to keep transparency in the whole process and the Supreme Court itself understands the need and thus allowed the videography.

"There are many ways to maintain transparency. The first is that a pro tem speaker should be unbiased. If there is any doubt over his impartiality, there should be any safeguard to counter him, which may be videography, television recording or live feed.

"We managed to pursue confidence motion in one-and-half day, cancelled the secret ballot's plea of (BJP)... There will not be any agenda and transparency will be there through when. Who will win or loose will be decided in a democratic way," Singhvi said.

Congress leader and senior counsel Kapil Sibal also said their demand was for a transparent voting. "When Additional Solicitor General himself said that proceedings will be videographed and shown live, we don't have any problem whosoever is sitting as a pro tem speaker."

Sibal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who always says "Na Khaoga Na Khane doonga" (Neither will I accept bribes nor allow others to do so), should also say that "Na kharidunga na kharidne doonga", in connection with Congress' allegation that BJP was trying to poach its politicians.

"There is no doubt that we have 116 MLAs as has been declared by the Election Commission also. Then, who will try to poach (these MLAs) is also not doubtful. How will they attempt to do so is also not doubtful," he said.

Yeddyurappa was on Thursday sworn in as the Chief Minister after the May 12 elections threw up a hung assembly.

The court on Friday directed the floor test to ascertain the support to Yeddyurappa in the 224-member assembly, where two seats are vacant, as his party fell short of eight seats.

--IANS

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